The Thrill
By Chris Chin, Proulxville, Quebec, Canada

There are many emotions that we feel over the course of
a day on the water. I haven't matched the hatch for over
two decades, so I can't speak on the gambit of feelings
that one runs while working a pool under a hatch.

As there's a good four feet of snow covering the front
lawn, I'm flipping through photo albums.

I'm always amazed that I can feel the jolt of the thrill
just remembering when certain photo was captured. Personally,
of all the moments that get burned into my brain, the "take"
is probably the number One thrill that stands out.

Since we went to Catch & Release in 2002, our tactics
have changed somewhat here. The battle isn't the biggest
part of salmon and sea run trout fishing now. I like to
fish now for the take.

(Left) – It is quite a feeling to try to hold onto a big
adult salmon in the current. André had the bruises to show
for his 90 minute stalemate with a 15 lb salmon.

Trout here take the fly with more vigour than a salmon.
Seeing a big buck digging in his heels and accelerating
up towards a drifting dry is a heart stopping experience.
In the same manner, the subtle flash of energy when a salmon
lifts through the water column to inhale an oversize Bomber
is enough to keep us coming back season after season.

It will always send a shot of adrenaline through my veins
when I set up on the #8 on the far side. The cast is
relatively long, about 60 feet. It takes a bit of time to
wade up to the point, but it's worth it as the back eddy
has the trout set up looking downstream. By casting from
an upstream position with a long leader, we can present the
fly out in front of the trout without lining them.

Because the trout hold out in the pool, it is a blast
casting to them. (Usually) The trout will jump the fly
the very instant that it lands on the water. With the
long cast, the line is laid out straight and all one
needs to do is to lift the rod to set the hook.

Of course we don't keep all that many trout either anymore.
One trout now and again is enough for a shore lunch.

We all get our thrills while out on the water.

Just the sound or sight of trout rising is enough
to set off Kenny the dog:

For what ever the reason you get your "thrill" on the
water, may your experiences be pleasant.

Tight Lines, ~ Chris Chin, St-Séverin de Proulxville – Québec

About Chris:

Chris Chin is originally from Kamloops,
British Columbia. He has been fly fishing
on and off ever since he was 10 years old.
Chris became serious about the sport within
the last 10 years.

"I'm a forest engineer by day and part time
guide on the Ste-Marguerite River here in
central Quebec. I've been fishing this river
for about 10 years now and started guiding
about 5 years ago when the local guide's
association sort of stopped functioning."

Chris guides mostly for sea run brook trout
and about 30% of the time for Atlantic Salmon.
"I often don't even charge service fees, as
I'm more interested in promoting the river
than making cash. I like to get new comers
to realize that salmon fishing is REALLY for
anyone who cares to try it. Tradition around
here makes some of the old clan see Salmon
fishing as a sport for the rich. Today our
shore lunches are less on the cucumber sandwich
side and more toward chicken pot pie and Jack
Daniel's."

Chris is 42 years old as of this writing. He
is of Chinese origin although his parents were
born and raised in Jamaica. He has a girlfriend,
Renée. "She and her 12 year old son Vincent
started fly fishing with me in October 2002."

To learn more about the Ste-Marguerite River,
visit Christopher's
website http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/.